Structure. Review the 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports2 fire reports16 injury reports

What owners actually said

214 reports

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2002

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY , AND THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP AT ALL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8012440

4,239 miles · Jun 12, 2002

Structure

Read full complaint

THE DOOR OPENED FINE ALL DAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN I WENT TO OPEN THE DOOR IT OPENED ONLY 2 INCHES. IT APPEARS THAT THE FRONT RIGHT FENDER PANEL HAS SLID BACK TOWARDS THE DOOR APPROX. 1/2 INCH AND THAT IS WHAT'S BLOCKING THE DOOR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE HINGE IS SLIGHTLY BENT. DEALER IS TRYING TO SAY THAT THE DOOR WAS SPRUNG. WITNESSES THAT I HAVE INCLUDING 2 POLICE OFFICERS CAN STATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. THEY CAN STATE THAT THE DOOR OPENED FINE THE FIRST 2 TIMES AND THEN NOT AT ALL LATER. BODY SHOP MECHANIC SLID SOMETHING INSIDE THE DOOR HINGE AND POPPED IT OPEN RESULTING IN THE PAINT ON THE HINGE TO BE SCRAPED OFF. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WARRANTY ISSUE BUT THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX IT WITHOUT PAYMENT. I FEEL SINCE THIS DID NOT HAPPEN BY CAUSE OR FAULT OF ME NOR WAS THIS VEHICLE HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE, THAT IT IS A DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TS *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***762999

NHTSA ODI #10009372

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2002

Suspension

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BACK OF VEHICLE WILL BOUNCE. DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8011435

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2002

Structure

DOOR LEAKS WATER/AIR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #762765

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2002

Power Train

AT 35MPH AXLE SNAPPED., CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO LEFT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8011255

Mileage unknown · May 29, 2002

Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY LURCH FORWARD, ABOUT 6-8 INCHES. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8010637

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2002

Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN ACCELERATOR LOCKED UP ON VEHICLE AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. DEALER CONTACTED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8008945

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2002

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR LOCKED CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONTACT DEALER AND GENERAL MOTORS. VEHICLE TOTALED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8008943

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2002

Suspension

CONSUMER STATES WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 50 MPH THE TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY. TOOK TO CHEVROLET AND THEY STATED THIS CONDITION IS NORMAL. NLM *TT

NHTSA ODI #8008070

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2002

Air BagsCrash

WHILE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS CAME OUT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8007260

Official recalls

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA05008 · Tailgate Support Cables

Opened Apr 14, 2005 · Closed May 19, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch

GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SPECIAL POLICY PROGRAM FOR 903,464 OWNERS OF 2000 - 2003 MODEL S/T VEHICLES THROUGH WHICH OWNERS MAY, AT THEIR OPTION, EITHER (1) PERIODICALLY INSPECT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN THEIR VEHICLE AND HAVE THE CABLES REPLACED IF THE CABLE COATING EXHIBITS ANY INDICATIONS OF DAMAGE OR DETERIORATION OR (2) REQUEST THAT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. GM WILL HONOR ALL REQUESTS BY OWNERS WHO OPT FOR REPLACEMENT WITHOUT QUESTION REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITION OR APPEARANCE OF THE CABLES. GM HAS AGREED TO MAIL REMINDER NOTIFICATIONS TO OWNERS EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS 12 YEARS OLD.ODI'S INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE REPORTED COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (94%) HAVE OCCURRED IN MY 2000 - 2003 S/T VEHICLES.

RQ04012 · Tailgate Support Cable(s) Break

Opened Nov 22, 2004 · Closed Apr 14, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut

ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-012 AND OPENING AN EA TO INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998 - 2004 MODEL YEAR SONOMA AND S10 MODEL VEHICLES.GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000-2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 AVALANCHES AND ESCALADE EXTS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODITHAT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE FABRICATED USING IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR SHEATHING MATERIAL AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.HOWEVER,GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT SONOMA AND S-10 VEHICLES DIFFER FROM C/K MODELS IN SEVERAL WAYS: THE VEHICLE HEIGHT IS LOWER; THE TAILGATE DISPLACEMENT (DROP) WHEN NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CABLES IS SMALLER AND THE TAILGATE COMES TO REST AT A LESS SEVERE TIP ANGLE WHEN NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CABLES; THE TAILGATE MASS IS SMALLER; AND THE SIZE, PAYLOAD, AND USAGE CHARACTERISTCIS ARE LESS DEMANDING THAN C/K MODEL VEHICLES.GM ALSO STATED THAT SONOMA AND S-10 WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION INDICATES A LOWER CLAIM COUNT AND A LOWER CLAIM RATE THAN RECALLED C/K MODELS.NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABOVE INFORMATION, ODI HAS RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL 73 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 10 INJURY COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING RQ04-012 (SINCE NOVEMBER 2004 TO DATE), WHICH JUSTIFIES OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE.